AMPK-mediated AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle is dependent on AMPK catalytic and regulatory subunits

Diabetes. 2006 Jul;55(7):2051-8. doi: 10.2337/db06-0175.

Abstract

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric protein that regulates glucose transport mediated by cellular stress or pharmacological agonists such as 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1 beta-d-ribonucleoside (AICAR). AS160, a Rab GTPase-activating protein, provides a mechanism linking AMPK signaling to glucose uptake. We show that AICAR increases AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and AS160 phosphorylation by insulin-independent mechanisms in isolated skeletal muscle. Recombinant AMPK heterotrimeric complexes (alpha1beta1gamma1 and alpha2beta2gamma1) phosphorylate AS160 in a cell-free assay. In mice deficient in AMPK signaling (alpha2 AMPK knockout [KO], alpha2 AMPK kinase dead [KD], and gamma3 AMPK KO), AICAR effects on AS160 phosphorylation were severely blunted, highlighting that complexes containing alpha2 and gamma3 are necessary for AICAR-stimulated AS160 phosphorylation in intact skeletal muscle. Contraction-mediated AS160 phosphorylation was also impaired in alpha2 AMPK KO and KD but not gamma3 AMPK KO mice. Our results implicate AS160 as a downstream target of AMPK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenylate Kinase / deficiency
  • Adenylate Kinase / genetics
  • Adenylate Kinase / metabolism*
  • Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Catalysis
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Ribonucleotides / pharmacology

Substances

  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Protein Subunits
  • Ribonucleotides
  • Tbc1d4 protein, mouse
  • Aminoimidazole Carboxamide
  • Adenylate Kinase
  • AICA ribonucleotide
  • Glucose